A landmark of Chennai
Vamsee had tagged me a while ago and the rules were fairly simple. I had to select the 6th picture in my 6th folder and write the story of the picture. To begin with, Ive altered the rules a bit here. Its the 6th picture alright, but its from my latest folder – the Chennai photowalk that started at Dasaprakash and went on till Rippon Building. Ironically the latter is the landmark of the city, but my post speaks of the former.
When Aarti told me that the walk started from Dasaprakash, I couldnt say no . After all, I lived down the road. This was my area and it would be fun to discover it through a lens. Secondly, the hotel has several fond memories – of playing as a kid, enjoying the icecream in the parlour , meeting friends and being treated by parents in the restaurant. The dasaprakash dosa was the most delicious dish ever tasted. This was of course years before fast and junk food took over our lives . 
Sadly however, the hotel doesnt offer services anymore .In fact no one knows whether it does or not, but it has an empty look about it.The picture says it all. Family disputes followed by litigation, union strikes have been the cause – but if rumours are to be believed, there is a talk of a buy over and a revival. Until then, the landmark lives on as a reference to the traffic junction opposite the building,as one haggles with the auto driver .
I agree… completely! In the last two years Dasaprakash has merely been my bus drop point. It wasn’t until this post that I stopped for a sec to reflect on what it really means to me. Thanks, Laksh, for that!
It’s strange, but true. A lot of Chennai-ites know where ‘Dasaprakash’ is, but don’t know it’s a hotel in the first place! :'(
I have not been there, but this is an interesting read.
Thanks for doing the tag. BTW, you need to pass it on to 6 other people!
I like the simplicity in the pictures.
I too savoured a dosa followed by an icecream long time ago. Sad to learn about its closure. thanks.
A long time ago, when we were children, our parents used to take us to Dasaprakash Hotel whenever we were in Madras, for a special treat – ice cream! How we looked forward to those trips from Pondicherry because the Dasaprakash was the highlight. And how we relished it.
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Ha i remember going there 🙂
I wasn’t been that side at all! It’s sad there are lots of standing landmarks been demolished to modernize today and hope they left over few remaining like this hotel.
🙂 Lovely pics.. reminds me- about time i uploaded mine!!!
the last time I visited the hotel was in 84 on the tail of the cyclone that hit madras..
So it is gone is it? Like the other place we used to frequent once upon a time – Royapettah woodlands – i am told a movieplex takes its place now..
your photo reminded me of the lyril ad – with the waterfall and all and the blues
Cool… I must do that tag too!
Dasprakash brings back fond memories! I didnt know that it is in such a state of abandon. my first memory of a sundae is in dashprakash – not eating it. but envying it on someone else’s table. i think it used to be the ‘earthquake’ and immensely huge!
this is a lovely story.
Hi Lakshmi,
I came across your blog looking for a picture of Hanuman, the kind we have during Dasara and since i am from bangalore and my grandparents were from chennai , i can relate to many of your pictures. I always wanted to be a gypsy but now i am on a different adventure in life, getting to know Krishna- the Lord…and that is also fun. Good luck in your endeavors.